Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Craig Counsell benching Ian Happ against left-handed pitchers?
Happ has been brutal against lefties in 2026, slashing .158/.232/.298 with a 34.4 K% and a 48 wRC+ in 125 plate appearances. Since May 20, he's gone just 8-for-60 against left-handed pitching with 25 strikeouts in 65 plate appearances.
Who will start in left field for the Cubs when a left-handed pitcher is on the mound?
Tyrone Taylor will get the starts against lefties going forward, with Counsell confirming on The Score that Taylor will be in the lineup against Tarik Skubal. Happ will shift to a platoon role and come in against right-handed pitchers.
How has Tyrone Taylor performed against left-handed pitching?
Taylor has been a lefty-killer, posting a .301/.311/.589 slash line with five home runs and a 146 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers prior to being traded to the Cubs.
Why didn't the Cubs make this platoon change sooner?
Matt Shaw, who has excelled against left-handed pitching and could play left field, was sidelined with a wrist injury on June 28, leaving the Cubs without a natural platoon option until they acquired Taylor at the deadline.
Why is the Cubs giving Tyrone Taylor the starts over Kevin Alcántara against lefties?
Alcántara did homer on Monday, but the 24-year-old has struggled in his limited MLB time, and the Cubs prefer to go with Taylor's proven track record rather than risk a rookie not being able to contribute in a key role.
Aldo Soto
With a journalism degree from Eastern Illinois University and a decade of Cubs reporting, my work has appeared on 670 The Score, ESPN 1000, and the Pinwheels and Ivy Podcast. I cover Cubs news and analysis for Sports Mockery, including roster moves, game breakdowns, and prospect development.
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